Hofer



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' O. A. MA YRHOFER.

Y HYDRAULIC. AIR COMPRESSOR.

PatentefiJu1y25, 1882..

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 2.

G. A; MAYRHOFER,

HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR.

No. 261,560. Patented July 25, 1882.

I r I doom/11x64?! (No Model.) 4 sheets-511m a.

0. MAYRHOFEK HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR. V No, 261,560. Patented July 25,1882.

I v 65 -t i 0 2 7 1 1 K O I I Fig.6

UNITED STATES -oARL A. MAYRHOFER, or PARIS, FRANCE.

PATENT OFFICE.

-HYDRAUL|C AIR-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,560, dated July 25,1882.

Application filed November 25, 1881. (No model.) Patented in France June18,1881; in Belgium J one 25, 1881; in Germany October 4, 1881; inEngland October 10, 1881, and in Austria-Hungary October 29, 1881.

. the French Republic, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinHydranlic Air- Gompressors, of which the following is a speci- Thisinvention has reference to an improved hydraulic air-compressor withautomatic reversing-gear and the invention consists of the combinationof a low-pressure reservoir and a high-pressure reservoir with awater-reservoir and a reversing-gear that is operated by compressed.air, in connection with a three way cock of the water-reservoir, so asto interrupt or establish the water-supply to the same.

The apparatus is further provided with automatically-working safetydevices for preventin g the entrance of water into the air-reservoir byshutting off the water-supply entirely from the apparatus, as will bemore fully set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made, Figure 1represents a diagram showing the general arrangement of my improvedhydraulic air-compressor. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, represents a part of theapparatus on a larger scale, showing the automatic revers- Sheet 2,represents the remaining part of the apparatus, also on a larger scaleand partly in section. Fig. 4 represents a detail plan view .of thethree-way cock of the water-reservoir and Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet 3,represent respectively a vertical transverse sectionof the automaticreversing-gear on line 00 3 Fig. 6, and a plan view of the same. Fig. 7represents a substitute device for automatically opening and closing thecooks; Fig. 8, an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the chamber F,showing the arrangement of the pipes connected thereto, the vents,valves, and valve-operating mechanism. Fig. 9is an enlarged view of theparts shown in Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My improved hydraulic air-compressor consists essentially of five mainparts-to wit, a low-pressure reservoir, M, a hi gh-pressure reservoir,K, a water reservoir, F, supported above the low-pressure reservoir M, asafety device for preventing the entrance of waterinto theconnecting-pipes of the apparatus, and an automatically-operatedpneumatic reversing-gear. (Shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6.) To the latterwater is admitted under pressure through a stop-cock, A, and pipe a,Fig. 2, and through the cock B of the reversing-gear into the system ofconnecting-pipes of the apparatus.

Close to the entrance-cock B are arranged two cocks, E and D, to which aweighted lever,

O, is connected in such a manner that the lever keeps always one of thecooks open and the other closed.

If the position of the lever 0 be up, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, thecock E is opened and the cock D closed. The water consequently 1sallowed to pass through the cock E and the tube 1), which latterconnects with the bottom of the water-reservoir F, Fig. 3.

The air contained in the water-reservoir F iscompressed by the rising ofthe water, and passes through the valve G and the pipe 0 to the safetyapparatus H. (Shown in Fig. 3.)

The safety apparatus H is of cylindrical.

shape, and has at its interior a float, H", which rests on small feet.The air which is forced in through the pipe 0 passes around the float,and then through the tube 01 to the cook I of the high-pressurereservoir K,Fig. 3, and when the same is in open position, which is thecase when the lever e is down, through the cock I and pipe f into thereservoir K. Simultaneously the air passes through the pipe 9 to thecock L of the reversing-gear, (shown in Fig. 2,) which cock is also inopen position when its lever h is in a downwardly-inclined position,

and from the same through the connectingpipe i into the workinglow-pressure reservolr M, Fig. 3. The course of the water (indicated byplain arrows) is therefore as follows: A, a, B, E, b to thewater-reservoir F,while the course of the compressed air (indicated bywinged arrows) is as follows: G, c, H, d, I, f, K, g, L, and 'i to theworking-reservoir M.

The low-pressure reservoir M is provided with a discharge-cock, N, forthe working air, also with a pressure-gage, Z, the water-reservoir F andhigh=pressure reservoir K having respectively the pressure-gages Z and ZUpon the top of the water-reservoir F, Figs.

3 and 8, is arranged a three-way cock, 0, to which leads a small branchpipe, j, from the tube 1' of the low-pressure reservoir M. The positionof the three-way cock 0 during the time when the water-reservoir issupplied with wateris such that the compressed airentersfrom ito jthrough the three-way cock 0 and through the small pipe to thecylinder]? of the lever (J of the reversing-gear, Fig. 2, whereby thelatter is raised and the cock E retained in open position, and thedischarge-cock D is retained simultaneously in a closed position.

As soon as the float Q of the-water-reservoir F, Figs. 3 and S, hasarrived at its uppermost position, it lifts a rod, m, by hearing on thefixed upper disk, I, of the same. The rod 022. passes through thestuffing-box n of the top of the reservoir F, and is connected at itsupper end to the inner end of the horizontal lever 0, which is pivotedat 0! to a standard fixed to the top of the chamber F. Attached to thecock 0 is a T- shaped arm, 0, and aweighted lever, 1). An arc-shapedguide-strap, p, attached to a fixed standard and provided with stop-pinsat each end, serves-to guide the movement of the weighted or balancingleverp. The

T-shaped arm is provided with laterally-projecting pins, against whichthe lever 0 acts to turn the valve 0. WVhen the parts are in thepositions shown in Figs. 3 and 8 and the float Q, is raised the outerend of the lever 0 presses against the lower pin of the arm 0 and turnsthe valve 0 sufliciently to cause the weighted lever 17 to pass thecenter of the arcshaped guide-strap p, and the weight upon said lever 12causes it to drop to the other end of the strap, and the axial turningof the cock 0 is accomplished. By the changed position of the latter theadmission of air from the small air-pipe j is shut 011' and the air inthe cylinder P, Fig. 2, allowed to escape to the atmosphere, so that thelever U is lowered by its weight R, and consequently the cock E closedand the cock D opened. This change in the position of the cooks E and Dallows the water to pass from the reservoir F through tube I), cook D,and tuheq to the outside of the apparatus, where it may be utilized forany other purpose, it having accomplished its work in the apparatus.

During the passing off of the water from the reservoir F air is admittedthereto through the vent S, Fig. 3, and the vent T, Fig. 4, the latterbeing opened by the arm 12, attached to the lever 12, so as to be throwninto open position.

The vent S consists of a check-valve which is raised from its seat bythe outside pressure of the atmosphere when the water is drawn ofl'.

The vent T consists of a cock which is connected by a crank-arm, 19 andpin 1) to the lever 0, whereby said lever operates to open or close thevents simultaneously with the turning of the cock 0.

When all the water has run out of the reservoir the float Q, has arrivedat its lowermost position and presses upon a second plate, I, at thelower end of the rod m, and forces by its weight the rod m downward,causing thereby the reversing of the levers 0 and p and the simultaneouschange of position of the threeway cock 0. The connection between thepipes t',j, and 7c and the cylinder]? of Fig. 2 is thereby establishedagain, the lever G raised, the supply-cock E opened, and thedischarge-cock D closed. The apparatus begins now its play again in thesame manner as before described.

It may be remarked,in this connection,that instead of the two cocks Eand D a single 'three-way cock may be used. In case of very highpressure it may also be advisable to substitute, in place of theweighted levers for opening and closing the cocks, pinions and weightedracks, as shown in Fig. 7.

The weight U of lover 0 (shown in Fig. 3) and-the weights V and W oflevers h and B (shown in Fig. 2) have the object to equalize thepressure of the air to such a degree that a certain fixed pressure maybereached, and also the friction of the cocks be overcome. If, forinstance, itis desired to store up air in the high-pressure reservoir Kat a pressure of two atmospheres, (provided that the pressure of thewater is higher,)the weight U of the lever 0 must be heavy enough toresist this pressure and hold the balance of the bellows or piston ofthe cylinder X. If alargerpressure should be reached, the lever e israised, the cock I closed, and consequently every further supply of airshut off.

A similar operation takes place with the cock L, Fig. 2. The weight V isarranged for a small pressure only, and is lifted by the air conductedthrough the small pipe 13 into the cylinder D as soon as the desiredpressure is obtained, whereby any further passage of air from the pipe 9to the pipe tand to the workin g-reservoir M is prevented. The lever (Jof the reversing-gear is either in its lowermost or its uppermostposition, according to the position of the reversing-levers of thethree-way cock 0 of the water-reservoir F. The cock B of thereversing-gear is closed by the lever B when the pressure in thehigh-pressure reservoir K reaches its maximum, as in that casethe air,conducted through the small pipe g to the cylinder Y, overcomes theresistance of the weight W.

The reversing-gearis shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, and shows morefully the diiferent parts, which do not so clearly appear in theperspective view of the reversing-gearin Fig. 2.

The safety apparatus H, Fig. 3, has the object to prevent the entranceof water into the pipe d whenever, by accident or otherwise, thereversing of the three-way cock 0 should not be accomplished, andconsequently water he admitted into the tube 0. In this case the float His raised and the mouth of the tube d closed by the cone 1" at the topof the float B. At the same time the safety-valve t is opened and thewater allowed to escape through the pipe at to the water-collecting panat the bottom of the apparatus, from which it passes into the open tankZ of Fig. 2, where it raises the float b and lifts the lever to of thesupply-cock A, so as to close the same and prevent the furthersupply ofwater. The lever w is retained by a nose or catch, or, on the latch 3 soas to prevent it from being lowered. The latch y is pivoted to the endof an arm which may project from the wall or from a suitablesupporting-standard.

The safety apparatus will also be thrown into operation if water shouldleave the apparatus at any other point, as the different parts arearranged at different heights above each other and shed all the waterinto the tank Z. The moment the supply-cock A is closed by the raisingof the lever 10 an electrical con tact,z z',isformed,and thereby analarm given, alter which the lever to has to be released from its catchas before the apparatus can be made to resume its functions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A hydraulic air-compressor consisting of awater-reservoir, a low-pressure air-reservoir, a high-pressureair-reservoir, a safety device to prevent the water from entering intothe system of air-pipes, a pneumatic reversinggear, and connecting waterand air pipes, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hydraulic air-compressor, the combination of the water-reservoirF, having a float, Q, connecting-rodm, and lever 0, with a three-waycock,.0, connecting-pipe K, cylinder P, and lever 0, whereby theautomatic opening or closing of the cocks E and D is accomplished,substantially as specified.

L, air-pipe 5, connecting cock L with the lowpressure reservoir M,cylinder D, air-pipe 6,

connecting pipe i with cylinder D, and the weighted lever It, allsubstantially as described.

4. In a hydraulic air-compressor, the combination of the water-reservoirF, high and low pressure air-reservoirs M and K, connecting air-pipes 0d g 9, cylinder Y, and weighted lever B, whereby cock B is automaticallyclosed in case of too high a pressure in reservoir- K, substantially asset forth.

5. In a hydraulic air-compressor, the combination, with thewater-reservoir F and the high and low pressure air-reservoirs K and M,of the safety device H H and connecting airpipes c d g t andwater-discharge pipe a, substantially as described.

6. In a hydraulic air-compressor, the combination of the water-supplycock A, having a lever, to, with float v, latch y, having nose at, andelectric contacts 2 z, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in pres ence of two witnesses, this'14th day of September, 1881.

0. A. MAYRHOFER. Witnesses:

CHARLES OHABOUDES, OHANTEMEssE.

